Method of and apparatus for processing material in containers



Dec. 21, 1954 Filed Jan. 8, 195] A. M. OLSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Ill 7 Sheets-Sheet l ALBERT M. OLSON INVENTOR.

Dec. 21, 1954 A. M. OLSON 2,697,665 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 8. 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 80 n5 I04 H6 864 I42 14: A A

I03 :02 9 83 B1) I I 85 92 9| l0! 1 I '29 88 4 k. 18 44 :t 99 aa laaj I J INVENTOR. ALBERT M. OLSON 95 l3| BY ATTORNEY 94 77% f 5mm 6 f I 98 91 Dec. 21, 1954 OLSON 2,697,665

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 8, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 g 5 10 o w i w l w w (6 I h l 2g 3 g 5: ro \m w m" I I) a q- N I I I '5 g 9 Ll gr I 'l N q In I m -w 8 6 LO \I Wt M 8 (D a 3 r I, 14! M m ALBERT M. OLSON IN! E.-\' TOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1954 A. M. OLSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 8, 1951 hnm INVENTOR. BY y W) ATTORNEY N2 2.. N2 om mm. .2 #23 .HHH n2 f:/. .8 y f /w n 3K I m 2w ,1 h 1: E S; m mom 6 w u 7 Dec. 21, 1954 A. M. OLSON 2,697,665

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 8, 1951 7 She ets-Sheet 5 Dec. 21, 1954 A. M. OLSON 2,697,665

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 8, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGII.

IO N N ALBERT M.OLSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1954 A.YM. OLSON 2,697,665

METHOD 0 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AL IN CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 8, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. I201. FlG.|3co. D L62 I40 52 F|G.l2b. 23

ALBERT M. OLSON INVENTOR.

BY WW ATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MATERIAL .IN CONTAINERS Albert M. Olson, Wauwatosa, 'Wis., assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 8, 1951, Serial No. 205,015

29 Claims. {Clu99-214) This invention relates generally to the art of processing material confined in containers and more particularly to an improved method of and apparatus for handling containers to agitate their contents while they are being processed.

In processing food products or the like sealed in containers, it is the usual practice to subject the containers to a heating medium such as steam to sterilize and cook their contents. Proper processing requires that the entire contents of each container be heated to a specified temperature and held at that temperature for a predetermined period of time. However, during the time required to transmit the necessary amount of heat to the contents in the center of a container by the methods ordinarily employed, the contents nearest the walls of the container are subjected to overheating with deleterious consequences. For best results, it is highly desirable to effect heating of the entire contents of each container as quickly and uniformly as possible and likewise to effect cooling quickly to complete the process. In addition to achieving better quality products, rapid heating and cooling of the containers shortens the processing time and reduces the amount of container handling equipment required.

In U. S. Patent No. 2,517,542, issued August 8, 1950 to La Verne E. Clifcorn et 211., there is disclosed a new method of processing food products in-sealed=containers wherein the containers are revolved end-over-end in a heat transferring medium about an external axis trans verse to their longitudinal axes 'at a speed such that the headspace bubble in each container moves-across themiddie of the container through the contents at itscenter, thereby agitating the contents and materially increasing the rate of heat transfer between the container walls 'and the contents. This results in heating or cooling the product quickly and uniformly and greatly shortens the processing time.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and apparatus for processing mobile material confined in containers, that is especially adapted to effect the processing operation with minimum effort in the most expeditious manner, thereby improving the quality of the processed material as well as reducing the cost.

Another object of the present "invention is "to provide improved apparatus for expediting 'the processing of material in closed containers through agitating the material during processing in accordance with the teaching of the foregoing patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for processing material in containers by the method of revolving the containers end-over'en'd to agitate the material while subjecting it to processing influences.

Another object is to provide an improved processing apparatus especially adapted to advance containers of material being processed along a helical path through a processing medium at a rate of progress selected 'to subject the containers to processing influence for a predetermined time and at a speed of revolution selected Ito subject the material in the containers to optimum agitation while it is being processed.

Another object is to provide container handling apparatus in which concentrically disposed cylinders'presenting cooperating intersecting trackways for receiving radially disposed containers may be rotated relatively and simultaneously to feed containers along the tracltways while revolving the containers end-over-end.

2,697,665 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 Another-object is to providean improvedcontainer handling apparatus wherein 'a drum presenting a helical n'acltway ror receiving containers disposed' radially is encircled bya reel with "cooperating longitudinal trackways, the drum and reel being independently. rotatable to advance containers by simultaneous relative rotation while revolving them end-over-end.

According to this invention, there is provided an .im proved method of and apparatus for processing mobile material confined in contamers by the procedure wherein the containers are revolved end-over-end at optimum speed to agitate the material effectively while it is .subjected to processing influences. The improved apparatus includes concentric cylinders presenting cooperating .intersecting trackways for receiving radially :disposed containers, the cylinders each bemg mounted for independent rotation upon a common horizontal axis. By relative rotation of the cylinders, containers may be moved along the tracltways at any desired rate and subsequently or simultaneously they may be revolved atadesiredspeed for agitating their contents in -a manner to effect optimum 'heat transfer by suitably adjusting the speeds of rotation of the respective cylinders. One of the cylinders may be in the form of a rotatable drurn presen-tinga-concentric helical trackway arranged to receive containers positioned with their major axes disposed radially to the axis "of rotation. The cooperating cylinder may be in the form of a concentric rotatable reel with pusher bars forming longitudinal trackways disposed transverse to the helical t-trackiway and forming therewith'at their intersections, container receiving pockets.

The cooperating drum and reel are contained Within a housing or retort into which a suitable heat transferring medium may be introduced for processing. the material as by heating or cooling. The apparatus may 'be 'arranged to receive a charge or batch of containers by rotating the reel while the drum is held stationary, after which the reel and drum are rotated as a unit during processing, the drum being again held stationary while 'thereel is rotated todischarge the processed containers and :to load a successive batch. Alternatively, the 'apparatus may be arranged to processcontinuously according to a new method whereby the containers are caused to progress through the processing medium at a predetermined rate while simultaneously revolving at the required speed to effect optimum-heat transfer. 'This'may be accomplished by rotating the reel at the proper speed while feeding containers into and along the helix with the drum stationary or with the drum rotating simultaneously at a different speed, the arrangement being such that the containers are advanced successively-through the machine along a helical path during the required processing time while being revolved at the optimum speed for properly agitating their contents. 'The speed of revolution of the containers is equal to the speed of rotation -.of the reel in any case, while the rate of advance of the containers through the machine is determined by the relative rate -of rotation between the drumand the reel. Suitable means are provided for expeditiously feeding containers into and discharging them out of the respective ends of the trackways.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, which will become more fully apparent from the followmg detailed description, may be achieved 'by means "of the exemplifying apparatus herein described in conjunc- IIOH WIih the accompanying drawings, in-which:

Figure "l is a view in side elevation of :a food processing machine of the batch type embodying novel features of the present invention, parts having been broken away to shorten the view and to disclose interior details; i

Fig. 2 is a view in'left end elevation'of the processing machine shown in Fig. 1, illustrating particularly the mechanism-for feeding containers into the machine;

Big. 3 is a fragmentary view,'part1y in plan and partly in horizontal section, of the left end of the machine showing the container feeding mechanism and driving apparatus 'togetherwith a diagrammatic representation at I Fig. is a view in side elevation of the cooperating container handling drum and reel that are rotatably mounted in concentric telescoped relationship within the cylindrical housing of the machine, parts having been broken away to shorten the view and to show details;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the reel shown in Fig. 5 illustrating a segment thereof including one of the container receiving trackways;

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary view taken in longitudinal section through the right or discharge end of the drum and reel combination, showing the manner in which the various parts are interrelated;

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing somewhat diagrammatically a complete processing apparatus or series of machines of the continuous type constituting a modified em-.

bodiment of the invention arranged for processing containers continuously in sequence;

Fig. 9 is a detailed fragmentary view in vertical section of container transferring mechanism in the continuous apparatus, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front elevation of the entrance end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 with parts broken away to shorten the view and to show interior mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus parts shown in Fig. 10 with parts broken away to show the interior of the transfer valve mechanism;

Figs. 12a to 12 are a series of diagrammatic representations of a reel and helix container handling mechanism, showing the manner in which spaced containers ared fed into the mechanism and are discharged in groups; an

Figs. 13a to 13d are another series of diagrams showing the manner in which containers advance through a machine such as one of the units shown in Fig. 8 and are ejected therefrom by the discharge valve mechanism in spaced relationship.

Although processing apparatus embodying the invention may be constructed to operate either according to the batch method or according to the continuous method wherein containers are fed into and through the machine in a continuous procession, a machine of the type constructed primarily for processing containers in batches lends itself more readily to explanation of the primary principles of the invention and will therefore be described first in the following part of this specification.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof for the present, the machine there shown as exemplifying apparatus for processing material according to the method involving endover-end agitation, is essentially a sterilizing or pressure cooking machine of the batch type, although it may be operated continuously if desired. In processing material in this machine, sealed containers of food or the like are loaded into the machine in a batch, and processed by heating them for a predetermined time and then cooling them rapidly, while they are being agitated by end-overend rotation, after which they are unloaded from the machine.

As more fully explained in the previously mentioned Patent No. 2,517,542, mobile material such as food products confined with gaseous headspace in metal cans, glass jars or like containers, may be agitated during processing by revolving the containers end-over-end at an optimum speed about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of the containers and removed a short distance from their proximate ends. To accomplish this, the containers are revolved about a conveniently positioned horizontal axis in the presence of a processing medium at suitable speed to cause the headspace in each container to move in the form of a bubble across the container through the contents at or near the middle thereof in a manner to displace and agitate the mobile material in order that portions thereof in the center of the container may be moved outwardly into contact with the container walls for faster heating or cooling.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the processing machine comprises essentially a generally cylindrical retort or housing for confining a processing medium, the housing being disposed with its longitudinal axis 21 horizontal and constituting the supporting structure or frame carrying the container handling apparatus. Within the retort 20 there is mounted a concentric container supporting cylinder or drum 22 arranged for rotation about the horizontal axis 21 and shown in detail in Fig. 5. The drum 22 presents on its peripheral surface a helical trackway 23 concentric with and generated about the longitudinal axis 21 and arranged to receive and support the inner ends of a procession of cylindrical containers such as cans C disposed in side-by-side relationship with their longitudinal axes extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation 21.

Encircling the drum 22 within the retort 20 is another cylinder or reel 24 arranged concentrically in telescoped relationship therewith for independent rotation about the common axis 21 and presenting circumferentially spaced longitudinal guideways or trackways 25 disposed to receive the outer ends of the containers. The longitudinal trackways 25 lie transversely of the helical trackway 23 and cooperate therewith at their points of intersection to form container retaining cells or pockets 26. With the angularly disposed trackways of the concentric cylinders engaging the inner and outer ends of containers c, respectively, at their points of intersection, relative rotation of the cylinders will result in cooperative action of the trackways upon tlfie containers, causing the containers to advance along t em.

For example, when the drum 22 is held stationary while the reel 24 is rotated, containers may be moved circumferentially along the helical trackway 23 and axially along the longitudinal trackways 25 to advance them laterally into or out of the housing 20 during loading or unloading of the machine. By locking the drum 22 to the reel 24 and rotating both simultaneously, containers in the pockets 26 at the points of intersection of the trackways may be revolved circumferentially in vertical planes about the horizontal axis 21 end-over-end at a speed adapted to cause the headspace bubble in each container to move across the container through the mobile contents in the manner described in the previously mentioned patent to effect agitation for facilitating processing.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cylindrical housing or retort 20 containing the telescoped drum and reel is provided at its ends with end bells or heads 27 and 28, respectively, having ports for receiving or discharging containers, and is supported upon parallel longitudinal frame members 29 connected near their ends to the respective heads 27 and 28.

Power for rotating the drum and the reel is derived from a pair of variable speed motors 30 carried by the heads 27 and 28, respectively, at the opposite ends of the housing 20 and connected by means of selectively engageable driving mechanisms 31 to the respective ends of the drum and the reel in a manner to provide for actuating the reel 24 separately or the drum 22 and the reel 24 simultaneously, as may be desired. The motor 30 and the driving mechanism 31 on the head 27 at the left or entrance end of the housing 20 also serve to actuate a synchronized container feeding mechanism 32 which is arranged to receive successive containers 0 arriving in a series or procession along a feeding conveyer 33 and to feed them into the entrance ends of the reel trackways 25 in proper timed relation with the rotation of the reel. At the right or discharge end of the housing 20, the other motor 30 and driving mechanism 31 on the head 28, in addition to furnishing power to the drum and reel, serve to actuate a discharging mechanism 34 that is in some respects similar to the feeding mechanism 32 and that operates to eject processed containers from the discharge end of the reel trackways 25 and transfer them to a discharge conveyer 35.

While the containers are being rotated end-over-end within the housing 20 they may be subjected to the processing influence of a heat transferring fluid medium such as steam admitted into the housing through pipes 36 under moderate pressure. After the contents of the containers have been heated by the steam for a sufiicient length of time, the steam may be turned off and the containers cooled under air pressure by admitting cold water through spray nozzles 37 disposed in the top of the housing and supplied through piping 38. The condensate from the steam and the water from the spray nozzles gravitates to the bottom of the retort 20 and is drained away through a troughlike drain manifold 39 and associated drain piping.

To prevent sudden reduction in pressure within the retort when the steam therein is condensed by the cooling water, air under pressure may be introduced through the pipes 36 from an air pressure line 40. The compensating air pressure counteracts the pressure within the heated containers to obviate bursting or deformation of them, the air pressure being preferably reduced gradually as the containers cool.

As best shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 10, the container carrying drum 22 is constituted by a hollow cylindrical member 41 mounted at each end on end plates or hub structures 42 and 43, respectively, which in turn are each connected by a flexible joint to an axially disposed supporting shaft 44 that extends outwardly from both ends of the drum to constitute journals supporting it for independent rotation about the longitudinal retort axis 21. On the periphery of the cylinder 41, there is mounted a radially disposed continuous helical flight 45 arranged in convolutions about the drum and constituting a guide which defines the sides of the helical container receiving trackway 23. The flight 45 terminates short of the left or entrance end of the drum and its terminal point connects at an obtuse angle with an entrance guide member 46 disposed at a somewhat sharper angle than the helix pitch angle to form an enlarged container receiving entrance way 47 for the helical trackway 23.

At the discharge end of the drum 22, the helical flight 45 extends to the end of the cylinder 41 with its terminal point defining one side of the discharge or exit end of the trackway 23 formed between the end of the helical flight 45 and the corresponding end of an angularly disposed discharge guide member 48 circumferentially spaced therefrom. As shown, the discharge guide mem- 48 extends inwardly from the end of the drum across the trackway 23 at a sharp angle and is joined to the side of the adjacent turn of the helical flight 45 to define a container discharging opening 49 at the exit end of the helical trackway 23. The discharge guide member 48 is connected at the end of the drum 22 to one end of a circumferential flight 51 which extends away from the opening 49 around the end of the cylinder 41 and connects at its other end to the terminal end of the helical flight 45, the exit opening 49 being disposed between the respective ends of the circumferential flight 51. The

circumferential flight 51 is spaced inwardly from and cooperates with the right end of the housing 26 to constitute therebetween a separate circumferential annular transfer trackway 52 into which the helical trackway end 49 may discharge containers seriatim at any position of the drum in revolving upon its axis 21.

The helical flight 45 defining the trackway 23 is of such pitch that its successive convolutions are properly spaced to receive between them the containers C being processed and it extends radially to a suflicient height to form sidewalls that engage and guide the inner ends of the containers. As previously mentioned, the containers are positioned in the helical trackway 23 with their longitudinal or major axes disposed radially of the axis of rotation 21 of the drum and with their inner ends supported by the drum. In order to limit contact between the inner ends of the containers and the periphery of the drum 22 for stabilizing movement of the containers, there is provided at each side of the base of the helical flight 45, a guide rail or rod 55 wound helically upon the cylinder 41 and constituting a bearing surface for one edge or bead of each container. As shown, the rods 55 at the respective edges of the trackway 23 form a pair of tracks or rails for engaging and supporting the peripheral edges or beads at opposite sides of the ends of the containers in the trackway, thereby providing for stable movement of the containers along the trackway, a suificient clearance space being left be tween the surface of the cylinder 41 and the container end to avoid contact therebetween even though the end of the container may be bulged outward. Both ends of the rails 55 are tapered so as to merge with the peripheral surface of the supporting cylinder 41 at the respective ends of the helical flight 45, leaving the surface of the cylinder 41 in the regions of the entrance end 47 and the discharge end 49 unobstructed, since the containers require freedom of movement in any direction in these areas when entering or being discharged from the helical trackway 23.

As best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the encircling cylinder or reel 24 is formed by a plurality of pusher bars 61 that are disposed parallel to and radially outward from the drum 22. The bars 61 are spaced circumferentially in pairs, each pair constituting one of the longitudinal trackways 25 of the reel, there being seven equally spaced trackways in the particular structure illustrated. The trackway structure formed by the pairs of bars 61 is supported at its respective ends by end plates or spiders 62 and 63 constituting the hub structures for supporting the reel for rotation. As best shown in Fig. 7, the plates or spiders 62 and 63 lie adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the respective end plates 42 and 43 of the drum 22 and present openings in alignment with the respective trackways. At least one of the spiders is arranged to be removable readily in order that the reel may be fitted over or removed from cooperative telescoping relationship with the drum in assembling or disassembling the machine. Connected to each of the spiders or hubs 62 and 63 by a flexible joint is a hollow trunnion 64 that encircles the shaft 44, the two trunnions extending outwardly from the respective hubs at each end of the reel to constitute axles or journals for supporting the reel in a manner to permit independent rotation thereof about the axis 21. As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 44 of the drum 22 extends through both of the hollow trunnions 64 with the ends of the shaft extending beyond the trunnion ends for cooperating with independent driving apparatus.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the pusher bars 61 are constituted by Z bars and are arranged in pairs, the bars of each pair being oppositely disposed and spaced to provide between them one of the container receiving trackways 25, the seven trackways being spaced equally about the periphery of the reel. The 2 bars are held in spaced position near their ends and at several intermediate points by bar spacing elements 65 extending between the bars of each pair and by pocket spacing elements or segments 66 that extend between the adjacent pairs of bars forming the pockets. As shown, the pocket spacing segments 66 are constituted by plates that extend inwardly between the pockets and are bent at their outer edges to provide axially disposed flanges which align with similar flanges on thebar spacing elements 65 to form substantially continuous bands around the reel 24. The pocket spacing segments 66 at the respective ends of the trackway structure are secured to or formed integrally with the corresponding end plate 62 or 63.

The 2 bars of each pair are so positioned that their webs engage the beads on the outer ends of the containers to restrain them against radially outward movement and their inwardly extending flanges engage the sides or edges of the beads on the ends of the containers to guide their outer ends along the longitudinal trackways 25. Thus a container C in any one of the pockets 26 is restrained from radial displacement in either direction by cooperative action of the 2 bars 61 and the rails 55 on the drum periphery engaging the beads at the opposite ends of the container, respectively. Likewise, lateral displacement is prevented by cooperative action between the inwardly extending flanges of the Z bars and the sidewalls 45 of the helical trackway 23 in engaging the sides of the beads on the containers.

As mentioned, the end plates or spiders 62 and 63 are connected to or constitute the end pocket spacing segments to which the Z bars of each pair are connected, the plates being shaped in a manner to leave openings communicating with the respective ends of the trackways 25. Radially inward from the 2 bars 61, each trackway 25 is further defined by a pair of opposed angle bars 67 spaced to confine the sides of the containers at the middle thereof. The angle bars 67 are also secured at their ends to the end pocket spacing segments of the spiders or end plates 62 and 63 and are likewise secured at the intermediate points to the inwardly extending parts of the several intermediate pocket spacing segments 66.

At the entrance ends of the trackways 25, the Z bars 61 protrude somewhat beyond the end plate 62 and are provided with outwardly flared ends 68 to facilitate the entrance of containers fed into the trackways by the feeding mechanism 32 as the reel 24 rotates.

At the discharge end of the reel 24, shown at the right in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 7, the 2 bars 61 extend sufliciently beyond the end plate 63 to maintain engagement with the outer ends of the containers that may be the circumferential trackway 527 However, the angle bars 67 extend a further distance beyond the end plate 63 and over the edge of the circumferential flight 51 of the drum in such a manner that they project entirely across the circumferential trackway 52 to provide pockets for confining the containers after they have moved out of the discharge end 49 of the helical trackway 23. In order to avoid sliding movement of the containers when in the circumferential trackway 52 the surface constituting the trackway is not attached to the drum but instead forms a part of the reel 24 which for this purpose is provided with a cylindrical supporting member 71 that constitutes in effect an extension of the drum cylinder 41 and that is secured to and extends outwardly from the reel end plate 63, as best indicated in Fig. 7. As successive containers arrive at the discharge end 49 of the helical trackway 23 they are forced by the discharge guide member 48 longitudinally of the trackway and through the openings in the reel end plate 63 onto the periphery of the cylindrical member 71 turning with the reel. Since the containers remain between the extended ends of the Z bars 61 and the angle bars 67, they are carried around by them on the surface of the rotating cylindrical member 71 constituting the circumferential trackway 52 until the containers arrive at the discharge mechanism 34 which ejects them from the machine.

As shown in Fig. 5, the hollow trunnions 64 extending from the respective ends of the reel 24 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 73 rigidly mounted in the centers of the respective end bells or heads 27 and 28 of the housing 20. Appropriate packing glands 76 are provided in the outer ends of the bearings 73 to prevent leakage through the bearings when the retort is operating under pressure. The respective ends of the drum shaft 44 extend through the hollow trunnions 64 as previously mentioned and are supported for rotation therein by means of internal bearings 77 as best shown in Fig. 5. A suitable packing gland 78, indicated in Fig. 3, is also provided between the outer end of each hollow trunnion 64 and the shaft 44 to prevent leakage under pressure.

For driving the reel 24 at both ends, each of its hollow trunnions 64 has keyed to it a relatively large gear wheel 80 that is arranged to mesh with a cooperating pinion 81 on the shaft of the respective driving motor 30, as best shown in Fig. 1. The motors are preferably identical machines of either electrical or hydraulic type arranged for operation at variable speeds in order that the reel 24 may be rotated at the appropriate speed for properly agitating the material in the containers C being processed in the machine. Since the reel 24 may be relatively long, applying the driving power equally to both ends in the manner indicated reduces the torsional strain in the reel structure.

As previously mentioned, the composite container handling structure formed by the independently mounted,

telescoped drum and reel combination shown in the drawings, may be operated to provide functioning of the apparatus either according to the batch method or the continuous method, depending upon the manner in which it is desired to operate the machine containing them.

Since the drum 22 and the reel 24 are independently rotatable upon the axis 21, it is apparent that either element may be rotated in either direction at any speed regardless of whether the other element is rotating or is held stationary and that any desired combination of movements of the two elements may be achieved by suitable driving mechanism to effect a required mode of operation of the apparatus. For operating the apparatus primarily according to the batch method, suitable mechanism is arranged for selective operation to hold the drum 22 stationary while the reel 24 is being rotated during the loading or unloading operation, and alternatively to lock the drum to the reel for rotation simultaneously therewith during the processing operation.

The particular driving mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings for operation according to the batch method, comprises a pair of special square jawed clutches 83 disposed at the respective ends of the drum shaft 44 and arranged either to clutch the drum shaft to the reel trunnions 64 to lock them together for simultaneous rotation of the drum and the reel by the motors 30 or to clutch the drum shaft to the frame of the machine to lock it for holding the drum 22 stationary while the reel 24 only is rotated. The two clutches at the opposite ends of the machine may be identical in construction and operation and may be of the type shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 as illustrative thereof, the particular clutch there shown being the clutch at the entrance or left end of the machine. As shown, each clutch 83 comprises a concentric stepped sleevelike member 84 presenting an outer end of reduced diameter that is keyed or splined on the outer end of the shaft 44 for movement axially thereof. The inner end of the sleeve 84 is expanded or enlarged to encircle the adjacent end of the trunnion 64 and is provided on its inner edge or face with clutch teeth 85 adapted, when the sleeve 84 is moved inwardly, to engage complementary stationary clutch teeth 86. The stationary clutch teeth 86 are fixed on a cross member 87 of a supporting frame structure 88 secured to and extending outward from the head 27 of the retort housing 20, the arrangement being such that when the teeth 85 of the sleeve 84 engage the teeth 86 on the stationary cross member the shaft 44 and the drum 22 are locked in stationary position.

In the particular clutch structure shown, seven teeth 85 are provided on the sleeve 84 for engagement with an equal number of teeth 86 on the cross member 87. Thus the drum 22 may be held stationary for loading or unloading in any one of seven positions. Since it is necessary to avoid interference between the entrance guide 46 and the incoming containers during loading, the clutch teeth 85 and 86 are so arranged that the entrance guide does not block the entrance opening at any one of the seven positions at which the drum may be locked in stationary position. Although seven teeth are shown, it is apparent that any other suitable number of teeth may be utilized so long as they operate to lock the drum with the entrance guide 46 in non-interfering position.

To provide for locking the drum to the reel 24 for simultaneous rotation during processing, each trunnion 64 carries on its periphery a circular row of spaced radially extending axially tapered teeth or clutch jaws 91 that are arranged to be engaged by similarly spaced round pins 92 projecting radially inward from the inner surface of the sleeve 84, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

For moving the sleeve 84 to effect the desired clutching connection, there is provided a hydraulically actuated piston 94 that is connected to the sleeve by a piston rod 95 and that operates within a hydraulic cylinder 96 fixed on the outer end of the frame 88. In the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the round pins 92 are positioned between the clutch jaws 91 in a manner to lock the sleeve 84 to the trunnion 64 for simultaneous rotation of the drum and the reel. For shifting the clutch sleeve 84 to the position in which the drum 22 is locked in stationary position, pressure fluid may be admitted through a conduit 97 to the outer end of the cylinder 96 thereby forcing the piston 94 inwardly to move the clutch teeth 85 on the end of the sleeve 84 into engagement with the stationary clutch teeth 86. At the same time, the pins 92 are moved axially out from between the clutch jaws 91 on the trunnion 64 thereby releasing the reel for rotation independently of the drum, the arrangement being such that the stationary clutch teeth are partially engaged before the reel clutch is fully disengaged, thereby preventing inadvertent rotation of the drum.

Fluid pressure from the conduit 97 also flows through a branch conduit 98 to the outer end of another hydraulic cylinder 99. A piston 100 operating in the cylinder 99 acts through a piston rod 101 upon a jaw clutch sleeve 102 which is slidably splined on the end of a shaft 103 that is connected to drive the feeding mechanism 32. When the clutch sleeve 102 is moved inwardly by action of the piston 100, its clutch teeth engage cooperating teeth on a clutch gear 104 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft 103 and has meshing engagement with the reel driving gear 80 constituting part of the feed driving mechanism 31. With the clutch teeth thus engaged, the shaft 103 is rotated by the gear 104 to drive the feeding mechanism in synchronism with rotation of the reel 24. As appears in Figs. 1 and 3, the inner end of the shaft 103 has fixed to it a bevel pinion 105 that meshes with a complementary bevel pinion 106 on the lower end of a vertical drive shaft 107. The vertical shaft 107 isprovided at its upper end with a spur pinion 108 that meshes with a large idler gear 109 which drives a gear 110 on the upper end of a container feeding turret 111 provided with two vanes arranged to move containers C delivered by the feed conveyer 33 through an entry port 112 in the head 27 and into the ends of the longitudinal reel trackways 25.

Since the turret driving mechanism is geared directly to the reel turning mechanism as just described, the turret operates in synchronism with the reel and presents each container C for movement into one of the reel trackways at precisely the right moment. As shown,

the container feeding turret 11 11 and the entry port 112 are located in the upper central part of the head 27 in position to feed containzrs into the reel. trackways as they move through their uppermost or vertical position in the course of rotation of the reel. Since the containers C are disposed in upright or vertical position as they arrive on the conveyor 33, they are in position to be fed into the tracsways 25 when each trackway is in vertical position at the top center of rotation of the reel, the containers thereupon changing from movement in a straight line to movement in a circle with the reel. However, since the containers are being fed into the trackways as the reel is rotating, the entrance end of each trackway will be canted relative to the vertically disposed containers during part of thefeeding. operation, both slightly before the trackway arrives at the top center position and after it passes that position. The necessary clearance for receiving the containers in canted relationship is provided by the previously mentioned flared outer ends 683 of the 2 bars 61, these ends being so shaped that the containers are guided by them into the longitudinal trackways to assume. a radial position between: the trackway bars and begin the circular movement for processing by end-over-end rotation.

As shown in Figs. 1., 2 and 3-, the file or run of containers arriving in procession on the feeding conveyer 33 engage the threads of a horizontal disposed feeding screw 115: which is rotatably mounted: parallel with the conveyer 33 in position to engage the sides of the containers. The feed screw 115 is supported at its: ends in bearings 116 and 117 carried by the frame 38 and is provided at one end with a bevel pinion 118 that meshes with a complementary bevel pinion 119 on the vertical driving shaft 107. The feeding screw 115- is thereby driven in synchronism with the turret 111 and operates to urge containers toward the turret in properly spaced relationship and at accelerating speed in such a manner that the speed of movement of each container as it arrives at the turret is. substantially equal to the speed of movement of the turret vanes. Accordingly, the turret engages each container without shock and moves it through: substantially 180 degrees around an arcuate guiding vane or trackway 120,. through the entry port 112 in the head 27 and into the end of the aligned reel. trackway 25 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the reel. As the reel 24 continues to turn, it moves the containers circumferentially of the drum 22 and feeds them successively into the entrance end 47 of the helical trackway 23, the containers being restrained from axial movement by the drum periphery and the Z bars of. the reel, as previously explained.

For this operation, the speeds of the driving motors 30 are so adjusted that the containers are fed into the apparatus as rapidly as they arrive on the conveyer 33 in sucha manner that each of the pockets 26 formed by the intersection of the longitudinal trackways 25 with the helical trackway 23 receives a container. Suitable revolution counting means or the like may be utilized to determine when all of the turns of the helical trackway 23 have been filled with containers. The feeding operation then may be discontinued by stopping the motors 30' and the apparatus prepared. for operating in its other mode to process the material in the containers, the prep aration including the closing of a drain valve. 123 in the piping leading from the drain manifold 39. Suitable air vents 124 in the top of the housing 20 are thermostatically control-led and thus operate automatically in well known manner when the operating conditions change.

When rotation of the reel 24 in the feeding movement has ceased, the drum driving clutch sleeve 84 and the feed driving clutch sleeve 102 are shifted to their other positionsby operation of their hydraulic actuators. Fressure fluid for this purpose is derived from a pump 125, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, that withdraws fluid from a reservoir 126 through a conduit 127 and forces it into a 4-way valve 128 having a rotatable valve core 129. in the position shown in the drawing, a pas sagewa-y 13:9 in the valve core 129 directs the pressure fluid to a conduit 131 which connects with the inner end of the hydraulic cylinder 96. A branch conduit 132 extends from. the conduit 131. to the inner end of the hydraulic cylinder 99. Fluid pressure in the inner end of the cylinder 99 forces the piston 100 outwardly thereby disengaging the clutch sleeve102 from the clutch gear 104 to disconnect the driving train, that operates the feeding mechanism 32.v Fluid remaining in the outer end of the cylinder 99 is, forced outward through they branch conduit 98 and the conduit 97 which is connected to the 4-way valve 128 and through a passageway 133 in the valve core 129 to a conduit 134 through which it returns to the reservoir 126.. Fluid pressure: in the inner end of the hydraulic cylinder 96 forces the piston 94 outwardly and likewise causes fluid remaining in the outer end of the cylinder to flow outward through the conduit 97, and the conduit 134 to the reservoir 126. Movement of the piston 94 to the outer end of the cylinder 96 results in disengaging the clutch teeth 85 of thesleeve 84 from the stationary clutch teeth 86 thereby releasing the drum 22 for rotation. At the same time the pins 92 of the sleeve 84 enter between the radialclutch jaws 91 of the trunnion 64 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 thereby locking the sleeve to the. trunnion, and coupling the drum to the reel for rotation simultaneously therewith.

With the drum and the reel thus locked together for simultaneous rotation while processing, the driving motors 30 may be started and adjusted to effect a speed of rotation of the drum and reel best adapted to properly agitate the contents of the containers. through end-- over-end rotation for optimum heat transfer during processing. Meanwhile, the entry port 112 is closed by means of a circular door 135 provided with a containerreceiving opening, which permits entry of containers into the reel trackway when the opening is. aligned with the port 112. The door 135 is rotatably mounted on the inside of the head 27 concentric with the machine axis 21 in a manner to provide for pivotal oscillation to move the opening therethrough into or out of alignment with the entry port 112 selectively. With the drain valve 123 and the door 135 closed, steam at the desired temperature and pressure from a steam pipe 136 may be admitted to the retort 20 through the pipes 36. by opening an interconnecting steam valve 137, the air in the retort escaping through the thermostatically controlled air traps or vents 124 in the top of the housing as is usual in retorts of this general type. Rotation of the reel and drum with the containers revolving endover-end is continued for the required length of time to properly sterilize or cook the contents of the containers While being agitated by end-over-end rotation.

After the containers have been subjected to the influence of the steam for the required length of time the steam is turned off by closing thevalve 137 and cold water is admitted through the pipes 38: and supply nozzles 37 to cool the containers as quickly as possible, the endover-end agitation of the contents serving to expedite the cooling process. Simultaneously, compensating air pressure is admitted through the pipe 36 from the air pipe 49 by opening an interconnecting valve 138, the pressure being regulated. tocounteract the pressure within the heated containers. The cooling water sprayed onto. the containers collects in the bottom of the retort 20 and may be drained away through the drain manifold 39 under the control of the drain valve 123-. After the processing operation has been completed, rotation of the drum and reel may be discontinued. by stopping the motors 30 and the apparatus then prepared for discharging the processed containers and replacing them with another batch to be processed, the drain valve- 123 being opened to drain away any water remaining. in the housmg.

To permit discharging of the processed containers, another circular door 139, similar to the door 135, but at the discharge end of the machine is opened by rotating it to position the opening therethrough in alignment with a discharge port in the upper part of the right or discharge head 28 of the retort. If desired, the door 135 at the entrance end of the housing. may be rotated to open position at the same time to align its opening with the entry port 112 for feeding containers into the left end of the machine while the processed containers are being discharged from the right end thereof. The two circular doors 135 and 139 serve also as end rings or retainers for holding the containers in the ends of the longitudinal trackways- 25 as the reel 24 rotates. within the housing.

The valve core 129 of the control valve 128 may then be turned to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to admit pressure fluid to the outer ends of the cylinder 96 and the cylinder 99. Pressure in the cylindo! 96 acts upon the piston: 94 to move the jaw clutch sleeve 84 inwardly to lock the drum in fixed position and to release the reel for independent rotation, while pressure in the cylinder 99 serves to engage the feeding mechanism driving clutch 102, as prviously explained. Fluid remaining in the inner ends of the cylinders 96 and 99 escapes through the conduits 131 and 132 and returns through the valve 129 and conduit 134 to the reservoir 126. Fluid pressure is also admitted from the valve 128 through a branch conduit 141 that extends to the right end of the machine as indicated in Fig. l and applies pressure to the outer end of the other cylinder 96 for actuating the corresponding clutch 83 at the discharge end of the machine, whereby the clutches at both ends of the machine are moved simultaneously to lock the drum in stationary position. Fluid in the other end of this cylinder 96 is forced out through a branch conduit 142 that returns to the valve 128. Pressure from the branch conduit 141 likewise enters the outer end of a hydraulic cylinder 143 similar to the cylinder 99 and serving to actuate a clutch sleeve 144 into engagement with a clutch gear 145 meshing with the driving gear 80 to effect a synchronized connection for driving the discharge mechanism 34. Fluid in the other end of the cylinder 143 also returns to the reservoir through the branch conduit 142.

As shown, the clutch sleeve 144 is splined on a shaft 146 carrying at its inner end a bevel pinion 147 that meshes with a similar bevel pinion 148 on the lower end of a vertical driving shaft 149. At its upper end, the

vertical shaft 149 is connected by gearing 150 to drive a container discharging turret 151 presenting two container engaging vanes. As the reel 24 rotates during the discharging operation, it carries containers C in the circumferential trackway 52 to the discharging turret 151 which operates in proper synchronism with the reel, by reason of the interlocked discharging mechanism 34, to engage each container as it is presented at the discharge port 140 and move it in an arcuate path through the aligned openings in the door 139 and the discharge port and onto the discharge conveyer 35, which may consist of a belt or chain arranged at right angles to the axis of the reel to carry away the processed containers. Suitable stationary guide vanes may be provided to assist the discharging operation of the turret 151 if required by the nature of the particular containers being processed.

For driving the apparatus as thus connected by the clutches, the motors 30 are adjusted to the proper speed for the feeding and discharging operation. As the processed containers are discharged from the right hand end of the machine, a new batch of unprocessed containers may be fed into the left hand or entrance end of the machine to refill the drum trackway 23 in the manner previously explained.

After the processed batch of containers has been discharged and a new batch of unprocessed containers fed into the machine, as may be ascertained by counting the revolutions of the reel, the clutches are again shifted to the processing position, the doors 135 and 139 are turned to closed position, the drain valve 123 is closed, and the previously explained processing operation is repeated.

Under appropriate circumstances, the simultaneous feeding and discharging operations may be carried on continuously, with the drum 22 held stationary and the reel 24 rotating, the containers being subjected to the processing influence as they are fed through the retort in a continuous procession.

Since both the door 135 and the door 139 must remain open for continuous passage of the containers under these conditions, no pressure can be built up within the retort 20 and heating is therefore accomplished by steam at substantially atmospheric pressure admitted through the steam pipe 136 and the pipes 36, or by hot water sprayed upon the containers through the spray nozzles 37. If desired, hot water may be retained in the lower part of the retort 20 at a suitable depth under control of the drain valve 123 for treating the containers by submergence as they revolve through it, either as a supplement to the steam or the hot water spray or as an alternative arrangement.

Under this method of operation, the speed of rotation of the reel 24 is established, by suitably adjusting the speeds of the motors 30, to revolve the containers endover-end at the proper speed to effect the desired agitation of their contents. Since both the feeding mechanism 32 and the discharging mechanism 34 are driven from the respective reel driving gear wheels 80, they operate in synchronism, with the reel regardless of its rate of rotation. When operating under these circumstances, the processing time is the time required for a container to move through the machine from end to end of the helical trackway 23 and depends upon the length of the drum 22 and the rate of advance of the containers along the drum. The rate of advance is determined by the speed of rotation of the reel 24 and the pitch of the helical trackway 23, the rotational speed being selected to effect the desired agitation and the trackway pitch being ordinarily dictated by the width of the containers.

In order to process by the continuous method, in this manner, the machine may be especially designed of suitable dimensions to provide for the proper speed of revolution and the required time of processing. Preferably, a machine of this type is used for only one stage of the particular process for which it is designed, such as for either the heating or the cooling stage. Ordinarily then, at least two suitably proportioned machines of this type are arranged in tandem relationship with the first machine operating in the heating phase and a second machine receiving the heated containers from the first machine and subjecting them to the cooling influence of the cold water spray while their contents are being agitated by end-over-end rotation as previously explained.

As the second machine in the series effects only the cooling of the containers by cold water to reduce their temperatures quickly from the processing temperature to a moderate temperature, the processing time is quite short and the machine itself may be much shorter than the machine for effecting the heating step. After the containers have been discharged from the cooling unit, they may be fed onto a discharging conveyer where they cool to atmospheric temperature.

If the particular process to be practiced requires a long processing time in the heating stage, a relatively long machine would be required. Since the processing time under this method of operation depends upon the rate of rotation, the shape of the helix and the length of the helix, and since the rate of rotation and the helix shape are determined by other considerations, the helix length must be increased to lengthen the processing time. This of course requires that the length of the reel and of the housing be increased accordingly, resulting in a long structure.

When space limitations or economic factors dictate a shorter structure, the circumstances may be met by reducing the rate of movement of containers through the machine while maintaining the same rate of rotation. This is accomplished by turning the helix drum simultaneously with the reel in the same direction but at lower speed to effect a differential action. Under these conditions, the speed of revolution of the containers end-overend for agitation is still governed by the speed of rotation of the reel, but the rate of advance of the containers axially of the structure depends upon the rate of relative rotation between the reel and the drum. Thus the rate of advance may be retarded as desired to retain the containers in the machine for as long as may be necessary to effect the desired processing, the number of containers processed in a given time being reduced correspondingly.

As a specific example, if the drum is rotated at one half the speed of the reel in the same direction the rate of advance of the containers will be reduced to one-half the previous rate and the processing time will be doubled. When operating in this manner, the containers are moved end-over-end along a helical path of less pitch than the pitch of the helical trackway 23, the pitch of the path of movement depending upon the rate of relative rotation between the helix and the reel. By suitably adjusting the speeds of rotation of the helix and the reel, it is apparent that in processing by this method the containers may be caused to advance through the processing medium at the desired rate to process them for the required time while revolving about the helix axis at the optimum speed to effect proper agitation for maximum heat transfer during processing. By properly selecting the respective rates of rotation of the reel and the helix, and the proportions of the helix, a machine of optimum size and cost may be designed to effect processing of a given number of containers in the desired manner at least expense.

According to this improved method of processing pro- '13 vided by the present invention, the'material to be prone essed is confined with headspace. in sealed containers: and the containers are revolved end-over-end in ahelical path about a substantially horizontal axis transverse-to. the axes of the containers and externally thereof. The speed of revolution of the containers is selected, as previously explained, to cause the headspace bubble in each container to move across the container through the contents in the center thereof to agitate the. material while at the same time the containers are advanced laterally through a processing medium in the direction parallel to the helix axis at a rate of progression adapted to cause the containers to be subjected to the influence of'the processing medium for a predetermined period of time. As practiced by the particular mechanism herein set forth, theendover-end revolution of the containers is effected at the desired speed by rotating thereel 24 "at'the proper speed, and the rate of advance of the containers through the processing medium is established by properly selecting the rate of relative rotation between the reel. 24iand the drum 22, which establishes the pitch of the helical path.

Although the process has been described with reference to the simultaneously and relatively rotating: helix and reel structure described herein, it is evident that'the. new process may be practiced by any other suitable apparatus arranged to effect end-over-end revolution'of containers in a helical path through a processing medium at a desired rate of revolution suitable to properly agitate: the contents of the containers and with the requiredrate: of helical advance adapted to maintain the containers in the presence of the processing medium for the desire'd processing time while their contents are being agitatedl.

As a specific example, in order to sterilize. green peas sealed in No. 2 cans, steam is admitted to the retort at a pressure of about 27.3 pounds per square inch gauge which corresponds to a temperature of approximately 270 F., while the reel 24- is-rotated'. at. approximately 75 revolutions per minute, thecan's revolving with their inner ends at a radial distance of about four inches from the axis of revolution With the helix turning at half the speed of the reel and having regard for the pitch of the helix, the length of the retort is so selected that the cans are subjected to the processing influence of the steam for approximately 2.6'nu'nutes. With a-reel having seven longitudinal trackways as-shown and turning at 75 revolutions per minute the machinewill' process about 260 cans per minute.

Although the cans or other containers may be of various shapes, sizes and materials, the method is particularly well adapted. to the round. tin can. Furthermore, it is especially advantageous when utilized in processing food in containers of large size such as No. 10 cans, since heretofore it has been impractical to process certain materials in large cans because the material at the center could not be sutliciently heated without overheating the material near the can walls. By virtue of the. present method of processing, these materials may now be packed in the large cans and uniformly heated throughout, thereby making them available to consumers at reducedcost.

When the machine is operating under: conditions of difierential rotation of the. drum 22' and the reel 24, it is desirable that the drum be turned at some proper fraction of the speed of the reel in order that one of the reel trackways may coincide with the entrance end 47 of the helical trackway 23 on the'drum: in alignment with the entry port 112 at regular intervals for receiving containers without interference. With the drum and helix operating at a two to one ratio for example, two complete revolutions of the reel 24- are required to feed containers. into one turn of the helical trackway 23. Under these circumstances, it is convenient to feed a container into. every other one of the reel track'waysZS as th y pass the entrance port 112 in order that all of the trackways in the reel may be filled with containers during two revolutions of the reel, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 12:: to 12,. When operating in this way, alternate trackways for receiving containers. are so selected as to avoid introducing a container atta time when the entrance guide member 46 is in interfering position at theentry port 112.

In the particular drum and reel structure shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein seven longitudinal trackways 25 are provided in the reel 24 and with the reel turning at twice the speed of the drum, containers may be fed into the 1st, 3rd, 5th. and 7th trackways during the tit) first revolution of the reel and into' the 2nd,.4tl1- and 6th trackways during-the second revolution, as indicated diagrammatically in Figs; 13:? to 13d, thereby filling all of the trackways'in two revolutions. Since the drum turns through one revolution: during this time, the reel makes only one revolution relative to the drum and; the seven containers thus fed into the reel trackways move successively into the helicaln'aclrway 23 of the drum in'a manner to fill all of the seven pockets: 26 formed by the first. turn of the helix at its intersections with the cooperating reel trackways.

The containers advance along the traclrways in this manner until they arrive at the discharge end of the helical traclcway 2.3 from which they are deposited seriatim into the circumferential trackway 52 bythe differential interaction the reel and thexhelix' revolve. iecause both thereel and. the helix drum rotate relative to the dis. charge port 149', the containers accumulate in the circumterential trackway during part of a revolution and'arrive at the discharge port in slugs or groups as; indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 12a to 127 and 13a to 1321'.

The manner of progressing. the: containers throughthe apparatus as shown diagrammatically in the drawings, will be described more fully in connection with a subs sequent detailed explanation: of the schematic figures, the present reference; to these figures being only for the purpose of explaining generally the. operational the continuous apparatus having the reel and helix rotating at differential speeds.

A complete food processing apparatus constructed especially for processingcontainersof food in accordance with the improved continuous method herein set forth,- is: shown generally and somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 8.. As there shown, the continuous apparatus comprises a series of machines having. cylindrical retorts 20 eachof which is a pressure vessel essentially the same. as the: retort 25 shown in Fig. l constituting the housing of the batch type machine. Likewise, each retort: 20' encloses a helix drum 22 and a cooperating tclescoped reel 24 of the type shown in Fig. 5, both mounted for independentrotation upon the longitudinal axis 21, as previously explained.

Since each individual unit of the continuously: operating container processing. apparatus performs only' one operation upon the containers, it is desirable that the several units be arranged for operation intandem relationship, as shown in Fig. 8. To this end, the units of the complete continuously operating processing apparatus may be arranged in a line or series, which may be doubled back upon itself. as shown in order to better adapt it to the space available- The apparatus includes a relatively short. preheating unit 152. arranged to receive containers from the-feeding conveyor and to preheat them for-transferring into a continuous pressure cooker or sterilizing unit 15.: arranged in alignment therewith and that performs the waiting or sterilizing function described in connection with the batch machine shown in Fig. l. A relatively short pressure cooling unit 154 constituting part of the return line receives the cooked containers under pressure from the unit 153 and after partially cooling them, transfers them to a longer atmospheric cooling unit 155 that is disposed in axial alignment therewith and in parallel'rel'aticnship with: the preheating unit 152.

The several units: may each be provided with suitable piping generally similar to that shown in Fig. l but adapted to the particular function of each unit. Since the units are to operate continuously, the previously described doors cannot be used to close the inlet and outlet ports. Instead, containers are fed from the conveyor into the preheating unit 152 through a rotary steam retaining lock or feeding valve 156 that serves to introduce the containers without material loss of heating steam. Likewise, the containers are transferred from the preheating unit 152 tothe sterilizing unit 153 through a rotary valve 157 and from the sterilizing; unit 1553 to the pressure cooler unit l54through a similar transfer valve 58. From the pressurecooler I54, another similar valve 159 transfers the containers to the atmospheric'cooler 155 from which they are discharged directly onto the discharge conveyor. T hepath followed by the procession of containers through the units and interconnecting valves is indicated in the drawing by the dot-dash line 160.

As described in connection with the batchtype apparatus shown in Fig, l, the telescoped' drum 22 and reel 24 of each unit are provided with inter-acting helical and longitudinal trackways 23 and 25, respectively, that form at their intersections container receiving pockets 26, as best shown in Fig. 5. For operating the apparatus according to the continuous method, the helix and reel of each unit are arranged for simultaneous rotation in the same direction but at different speeds, as previously explained. In place of the clutches utilized in the batch type machine, the driving mechanism for the continuous apparatus includes gearing arranged to interconnect the helix drum and the reel in a manner to provide for simultaneous rotation thereof in the same direction at a predetermined ratio, in this instance the ratio being two to one to turn the helix at one-half the speed of the reel. The driving apparatus for actuating the reels and helixes of the preheater 152 and the pressure cooker 153 is shown in Fig. 10 which constitutes an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of these two units with their cooperating valves 156 and 157.

As shown in Fig. 10, the trunnion 64 at each end of the reel 24 of each unit is provided with a gear wheel 161 that corresponds generally with the gear wheel 80 shown in the batch type machine, but in this instance the trunnions and gear wheels are mounted inwardly of modified end bells 162 which close the ends of the housing and correspond to the end bells 27 and 28 of the batch machine shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 44 of each drum 22 extends outwardly through the end bells 162 at the ends of the retort and is journalled therein in bearings 163, each reel 24 being in turn rotatably mounted upon the corresponding shaft 44 by means of bearings 164 within its trunnions 64. On the outer ends of the shafts 44 there are provided gear wheels 165 arranged for driving both ends of the drum. The gear wheels 165 mesh with pinions 166 on the outer ends of parallel countershafts 167 journalled in bearings 168 in the end bells 162. The inner ends of the countershafts 167 are provided within the retort with gear wheels 169 that have meshing engagement with the gears 161 on the ends of the reel 24. Since in this modification the ends of the machine are not provided with circular doors, the containers are held in the ends of the reel trackways by stationary annular retainer rings or plates 170 secured to the inner surfaces of the end bells 162 and extending inwardly therefrom adjacent to the respective ends of the reel 24. Suitable packing glands 171 and 172 are provided at the outer ends of the bearings 163 and 168 to prevent the escape of steam along the shafts 44 and 167, respectively.

Power for driving the drum and the reel is applied to the outer end of the countershaft 167 at the inlet end of each machine, the countershaft being provided with a gear 173 for that purpose. By reason of the fact that the helix drum 22 and the reel 24 are rigidly geared together at both ends, torsional deflections resulting from applying the driving power are reduced to a minimum. Each driving gear 173 on the countershaft has meshing engagement with a pinion 174 on a drive shaft 175 that is journalled in bearings 176 in parallel relationship with the machine axis 21, each drive shaft also being provided with a large driving gear 177.

The units 152 and 153, together with their associated valve mechanisms, are driven by a line shaft 178 disposed parallel with their aligned axes and carrying pinions 179 which mesh with the respective driving gears 177 on the drive shafts 175 of the units. Likewise, as shown in Fig. 8, the units 154 and 155, together with the interconnecting valve mechanism 159, are driven by a similar parallel line shaft 180 which also carries a pinion 179 for meshing with the gear 177 which drives these units. The parallel line shafts 178 and 180 are interconnected by a gear train 181 meshing with one of the pinions 179 on the shaft 178, in such a manner that the two shafts are interlocked for synchronized operation. Power for driving all of the units of the apparatus is applied to the line shaft 178 by a driving motor 182, the shaft of which carries a pinion 183 that meshes with a gear 184 on the end of the line shaft 178. Since the several units of the apparatus are all driven by the motor 182 operating through the interconnected line shafts 178 and 180, the various drums, reels and valves operate in synchronism regardless of the speed of the motor 182.

The motor 182 is of the variable speed type in order that the speed of operation of the apparatus may be adjusted as required to turn the reels 24 at the proper speed for effecting the desired end-over-end agitation of the material in the containers C, as previously explained. Changing the speed of the drive motor 182 likewise changes the rate of feeding movement of the containers through the retorts 20 from end to end thereof, the speed of the motor being selected to effect the best processing results under any particular circumstances. Although the rate of feeding movement may be regulated to some extent by adjusting the motor 182, the rate of movement through the machine is determined primarily by the ratio of the gearing interconnecting the drums and the reels and may be changed by substituting gearing having a different ratio than the two to one ratio of the gearing shown in the drawing. In making a major change of feeding rate in this manner, it is necessary to rearrange the machine in other particulars to provide for feeding the containers into the reel pockets at the proper intervals and at the required velocity.

The mechanism for feeding containers into the continuous type machine is arranged to operate synchronously and continuously without interruption and therefore does not require a disconnecting clutch such as utilized in the feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The present feeding mechanism for each machine of the series is driven directly from the drive shaft of the machine, as shown in Fig. 10, by means of a bevel gear 185 that meshes with a similar bevel gear 186 on the lower end of a vertically disposed drive shaft 187. The vertical drive shaft 187 extends upward through a valve housing 188 constituting part of the inlet valve mechanism 156, corresponding parts of the valve mechanism 157 and of the other valve mechanisms 158 and 159 being the same and identified by the same reference numerals. Within the housing 188 the shaft 187 carries a rotatable valve body 189 provided at diametrically opposed positions on its periphery with container receiving pockets 191 and 192. As best shown in Fig. 11 of the drawing with reference to the valve 157, the valve body 189 fits within a circular cavity in the housing 188 in such a manner that it may rotate therein for feeding containers into or out of the retort without appreciable loss of pressure fluid. At its upper end above the housing 188, the shaft 187 is provided with a large gear 194 that meshes with a gear 195 on the upper end of a shaft 196 that is journalled vertically in the housing 188 and that carries a feeding turret 197 having a single vane 198 arranged to feed containers into the pockets of the ro tary valve 189.

At the lower end of the shaft 196 in the in-feeding mechanism associated with the first valve mechanism 156, as shown in Fig. 10, a bevel gear 201 is afiixed to the shaft in position to mesh with a similar bevel gear 202 on a horizontal shaft 203 carrying a driving sprocket 204 for a conveyor 205 corresponding with the feeding conveyer 33 of Fig. 1 and arranged to advance containers C horizontally in upright position to the feeding turret 197. As shown in Fig. 11, the conveyer 205 operates over a second sprocket 206 on one end of a shaft 207, the other end of which carries a gear 208. The gear 208 meshes with a gear 209 on a horizontal shaft 211 disposed above the shaft 207 and provided at its other end with a bevel gear 212 meshing with a similar bevel gear 213 on a shaft 214 disposed parallel with the conveyer 205 and carrying a feeding screw 215 that engages successive containers C as they are advanced by the conveyer 205 and feeds them in properly spaced and timed relationship into the feeding turret 197.

The interconnecting gearing is so arranged that a container C advanced by the feeding screw 215 at proper speed is engaged by the vane 198 of the turret 197 and moved by it through an arcuate path of 180 into one or the other of the pockets of the valve body 189, a suitable arcuate deflector plate or guideway 216 being arranged to guide the container through an inlet port 217 into the valve housing 188, as best shown in Fig. 11. The valve body 189 then carries the container along an arcuate path of 180 to a position in which it is engaged by gripping fingers 218 of a discharge or transferring turret 219 also having a single vane 198 and operating within a discharge passageway or port 220 of the valve housing 188. The turret 219 is equipped with the gripping fingers 218 for engaging the top and bottom beads of the containers in well known manner to assist in withdrawing them from the pockets of the valve body 189. The vane 198 of the turret 219 carries the container along an arcuate guideway 221 through 180 and delivers it to a reel feeding turret 222 likewise having a single vane 198 that moves it along another arcuate guideway 223 from which it. is fed through the inlet port 112 into the end of one of the longitudinal trackways 25 of the reel 24. The path of the container as it moves through the valve structure is indicated by the dot-dash line 160 in Fig. 8. The turrets 219 and 222 are mounted on vertically disposed shafts 225 and 226, respectively, that extend upwardly from the housing 188 as shown in Fig. and are provided at their upper ends with intermeshing gears 227 and 228, respectively, the gear 227 being also in meshing engagement with a gear 229 on the vertically disposed drive shaft 187.

Since, as previously explained, the containers C are fed into only every other one of the longitudinal trackways 25 of the reel 24, each of the turrets 197, 219 and 222 is provided with only a single radially extending vane or arm 198, the arrangement being such that the vanes 193 move the containers C at the proper velocity to synchronize with the peripheral velocity of the reel and yet receive the containers in spaced relationship from the feeding screw 215, for instance, to deliver them in the required spaced relationship for feeding them into only every other trackway of the reel.

The various parts of the valve mechanism which are identified by the same reference numerals are made identical for convenience in manufacturing, but it is to be understood that each valve mechanism might be individually designed to meet specific operating conditions. As previously set forth, the infeeding valve mechanism 156 is operativcly connected by means of the gear 201 to drive the container feeding conveyer 205 and screw 215 in a manner to deliver containers in spaced relationship for feeding into alternate reel trackways. The valve mechanism 257 differs from the valve mechanism 156 in that it has no connection with a feeding conveyer since it receives containers directly from the reel of the pre heater 152, the single vane turret withdrawing containers from only every other trackway of the reel to obviate discharging the containers in groups or slugs. To assist in this operation, the first turret 197 of this valve mechanism 157' is also provided with the gripping fingers 213 which. engage the opposite ends of the containers to aid in withdrawing them from the discharge ends of the reel trackways through the discharge port 140. In similar manner the first turret of the valve 158 removes containers from the discharge ends of the reel trackways in the cooker 153 through the discharge port 140 with the assistance of the gripper fingers 218. However, this valve does not feed directly into the next reel but instead feeds onto a flight conveyer 232 that transfers the containers to the pressure cooler 154 in the other line of machines.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the flight conveyer 232 is enclosed within a pressure tight housing 233 that extends from the housing of the valve 158 to the end housing of the pressure cooler 154. As best shown in Fig. 9, the conveyer 232 is constituted by a chain 234 provided with spaced flights 235 for engaging the containers C to advance them in spaced relationship. At the valve end of the housing 233, the chain 234 operates over an idler sprocket 236 that is rotatably mounted in the housing below the discharge port 220 of the valve mechanism 158 in such position that the conveyer 232 is disposed to receive and carry away each container C as it is discharged from the valve. At the pressure cooler end of the housing 233, the conveyer chain 234 passes around a somewhat larger sprocket 237 substantially equal in diameter to the drum 22 of the pressure cooler 154. As shown, the sprocket 237 is mounted concentric with the helix and reel and is connected to the reel trunnion to turn with the reel of the pressure cooler in synchronism with its trackways 25. As indicated in the drawings, the conveyer 232 operates to move a container C into alignment with every other trackway of the reel 24 of the cooler in order that the containers may be fed into this reel in the same manner that they are fed into the reels of the previous machines by means of the feeding turrets 222. However, in this instance no feeding turret is required, the containers being guided into the reel trackways by a stationary guide arm 238 shown in Fig. 8.

The transferring valve mechanism 159 is similar to the mechanism 157 in that it receives containers from every other trackway of the reel of the pressure cooler 154 and transfers them into the inlet end of every other trackway of the reel of the atmospheric cooler 155. Since the cooler is not under preziure, no valve is required at its discharge end and accordingly, the containers are merely guided out of the ends of the reel trackways by another stationary guide arm 239, the containers being discharged in groups or slugs of seven corresponding with the seven trackways in the reel. The groups or slugs of containers discharged from the atmospheric cooler 155 are deposited upon a discharging conveyer 240 corresponding with the discharging conveyer 35 shown in Fig. 1. The conveyer 240 extends at right angles to the machine axis and carries away the successive groups or slugs of containers in spaced relationship, the groups later merging as they are delivered to the next machine for operating upon the containers. The path followed by the containers in moving through the several units of the continuous processing apparatus is indicated by the previ- ,ously mentioned dot-dash line 160.

Although the particular reels 24 shown in the drawings each presents an odd number of trackways, in this instance seven, for convenience in receiving alternately fed containers when cooperating with the helix at a two to one ratio, it is not essential that this particular number of trackways be employed or that a particular ratio of rotation of the reel and the helix be utilized. As an example of another construction, a reel having four longitudinal trackways will cooperate with suitable feeding mechanism when the reel and the drum are operating at a three to two ratio. Under these circumstances, containers may be fed into every third trackway of the reel with the first container entering the first trackway and the second container entering the fourth trackway. The third container then enters the third trackway and the fourth container enters the second trackway, the sequence being repeated continuously.

From these examples it is apparent that various other combinations of reel and helix trackways and ratios of rotation may be utilized and are available for meeting particular circumstances in the processing of various products. If it should be desired, for instance, to subject the containers to processing for a long period of time, a machine may be so constructed that containers move through it at a very slow rate of progression. To this end, a reel having a comparatively large number of trackways may be arranged to cooperate with a drum turning somewhat slower in the same direction at a low ratio such that the reel advances the space of only one trackway relative to the drum in each revolution. Thus only one pocket is presented for receiving a container in each revolution of the reel and the containers therefore move through the machine at the rate of one container per revolution of the reel. It is of course possible to still further increase the length of the processing time by so arranging the relative speeds of the reel and the helix that a container is fed into the reel only in each alternate revolution or less if desired. Hence, by suitably proportioning and operating the reel and helix container handling combination, the containers being processed may be advanced through the processing medium at the proper rate to process them for the required period of time while simultaneously revolving them at the speed best adapted to effect the desired agitation of their contents during processing.

As previously mentioned, in the particular machine described herein, the containers are fed into every other trackway of the reel continuously in such a manner that interaction of the reel and helix turning at the two to one ratio results in filling all of the pockets formed by their intersecting trackways and in feeding the containers through the machine in a continuous procession. Likewise, interaction of the reel and helix results in accumulating the processed containers in the circumferential trackway S2 for discharging in groups or slugs. However, operation of the single vane 198 of the extractor turret 197 in withdrawing containers from only every other trackway of the reel serves to redistribute the slugs of containers for feeding them uniformly in spaced relationship into the next machine.

To illustrate more in detail the way in which a procession ofeontainers move through a processing machine of the difleren'tial reel and helix type, a series of schematic diagrams representing a machine and a run of containers in various relationships are shown in Figs. 12a to 12 inclusive. The cooperating reel and drum structure previously described are represented in these diagrams by line developments thereof superimposed in successive relative positions. To simplify the showing, the drum 22 is represented as having only a few turns of the helical trackway 23 while the reel 24 is represented as having only three longitudinal trackways 25. The helix and the cooperating reel are assumed to be rotating in the same direction at a two to one ratio as previously explained in connection with the structure shown in Fig. 10. Each successive figure shows the reel advanced circumferentially the space of one trackway and the helix advanced one-half of this distance, the direction of movement being assumed to be downward in the diagrams, as indicated by the arrows. The container feeding mechanism is represented schematically by diagrams of the feeding conveyer 205 and the container ejecting mechanism is represented by diagrams of the discharging conveyer 240, these conveyers serving to symbolize all of the mechanism for movement of the containers into or out of the retort.

The containers being processed are represented by circles arranged in groups of three to correspond with the number of reel trackways, the containers of each group being numbered consecutively and the successive groups being further identified by reference letters. Dotted circles represent positions from which containers have been moved longitudinally in advancing from one element of the machine to another.

The various pockets 26 formed by the intersecting reel and helix trackways are shown filled with containers arranged in the order in which they move through the apparatus when it is operating continuously. Although the reel 24 is indicated as having only three trackways, the containers are fed into the trackways alternately as in the case of the seven trackways of the reel structure previously described, the containers entering the first trackway, then the third trackway and then the second trackway in a sequence that is repeated continuously.

The manner in which containers move into the machine in the feeding operation is illustrated in the diagrams by movement of the containers of the D series. In Fig. 12a, the first container of the D series, identified as D-l, is shown approaching the entrance port 112 on the feeding conveyer 205, which advances the containers to the machine in spaced relationship for feeding into every other trackway of the reel, the direction of movement being indicated by the arrow. Two of the containers of the A series are indicated as having already passed entirely through the machine onto the discharge conveyer 240 while the container A-3 and the containers of the B and C series occupy pockets within the machine.

As shown in the next diagram, Fig. 12b, the container D-1 has been advanced by the feeding conveyer 205 to the position indicated in dotted lines opposite the entrance port 112 and has then been moved through the port into the end of the first longitudinal trackway 25 of the reel 24 in position to advance with the reel.

In Fig. 120, the reel 24 is indicated as having been advanced circumferentially another trackway space to bring the second trackway into alignment with the entrance port 112. However, at the same time the helix drum 22 has advanced through a distance equal to onehalf of a trackway space which results in this instance in moving the end of the entrance guide member 46 into interfering position in front of the port 112 so that no container can be fed into the second trackway. This condition of interference between the end of the helical flight and the entry port recurs every second revolution of the reel and constitutes one of the reasons for delivering containers to the entry port in spaced relationship. Accordingly, no container is presented by the conveyer 205 as the container D-2 has not yet arrived at the port 112 by reason of the containers being spaced on the conveyer as shown for entry into only every other trackway of the reel as it rotates.

When the reel turns to bring the third trackway into register with the entry port, as shown in Fig. 12d, the guide member 46 advances an additional one-half space to clear the port 112 and the conveyer 205 delivers the second container D-2 to the entry port for feeding into the third trackway of the reel.

In Fig. 12e, the first reel trackway has again come a into alignment with the entry port, but since the trackway is already occupied by container D-l, no container can be fed into it at that time, the containers being so spaced on the conveyer 205 that no container is presented at the entry port. In this position, the container D-2, which is now actually ahead of the container D-1, moves into the entrance end 47 of the helical trackway 23 thus leaving the third reel trackway open for receiving another container.

In Fig. 12 the second trackway of the reel is again in alignment with the entry port and since the helix has now advanced a half revolution, there is no interference at this time, and the container D-3 is fed into the reel thus filling the three reel trackways with the three containers of the D series, but with the containers interchanged in order, by reason of being fed into alternate trackways.

The next advance of the reel and helix brings them again into the position shown in Fig. 12a with the third pocket of the reel in alignment with the entry port, but since no container is delivered by the conveyer 205 at that time, the pocket remains empty to be filled the next time it registers with the entry port. At this position of the reel, the container D-1 moves into the helical trackway entrance 47 behind the container D-2 leaving the first trackway open. In the next position, the first tracltway moves into register with the entry port as shown in Fig. 12b after completing two revolutions of the reel and one revolution of the helix. The container D-3 then is about to enter the helix behind the containers D2 and D-1 and the first trackway is in position to receive the first container E-1 of the next series.

As the drum and the reel continue to rotate in this manner, the containers advance along the intersecting trackways toward the discharge end of the apparatus. Upon arriving at the discharge end 49 of the helical trackway 23, each container in turn moves into the circumferential trackway 52 while remaining in the longitudinal trackways 25 of the reel. This movement of the containers into the circumferential trackway occurs at various angular positions of the helix discharge end 49 relative to the exit port and operates to effect an accumulation of containers in the trackway 52 that are discharged intermittently in groups or slugs through the discharge port as in the case of the atmospheric cooler in discharging onto the conveyer 240. This accumulation of containers and the discharging of them in groups or slugs may best be visualized by referring again to Fig. 12a and following the movements of the containers at the discharge end of the machine through the subsequent diagrams.

As shown in Fig. 12a, the two containers A-1 and A-2 have been discharged, but the container A-3 is prevented from being discharged by reason of the fact that the exit end 49 of the helical trackway has just moved out of alignment with the discharge port 140. Consequently no container is discharged at this position. As the machine moves to the position shown in Fig. 12b, the container A3 moves from the dotted circle position in the end 49 of the helical trackway into the circumferential trackway 52 below the discharge port 140 and again no container is discharged. In Fig. 12c, the container A-3 is shown as advanced along the circumferential trackway while the container B2 approaches the end of the helical trackway and for the third time no container is discharged.

In Fig. 12d, the container A-3 is brought into alignment with the discharge port 140 and is indicated as having moved from its dotted circle position in the circumferential trackway through the port 140 onto the discharging conveyer 240 three spaces behind the previously discharged containers, while at the same time the container B2 has moved from the dotted circle position in the discharge end 49 of the helix into the circumferential trackway 52. The container B2 then advances into alignment with the discharge port 140 as shown by the dotted circle in Fig. 12a and moves out through the port to take a position behind the container A-3 on the conveyer 240, the container Bl meanwhile approaching the discharge end of the helical trackway. In Fig. 12f, the discharge end 49 of the helix has moved into alignment with the discharge port 140 and the container Bl has moved from the dotted circle position in the helix to the second dotted circle position in the circumferential trackway and thence across the trackway and through the discharge port 140 to take its position on the conveyer 240 directly behind the container B2, thereby completing the 21 discharge of a group or slug of three containers following three empty spaces on the conveyer.

The next tnree positions of the reel and helix will be the same as the positions shown in Figs. 12a, 12b and 120, during which time no containers will be discharged from the port 140. Another group or slug of three containers will then be discharged in the subsequent positions of the reel and helix corresponding to those indicated by Figs. 12d, 12e and 12f, the operation repeating itself continuously to effect intermittent discharging of containers in groups of three separated by spaces of equal length.

From the foregoing explanation of the operation of the particular elementary two to one ratio machine arrangement shown, it is apparent that the containers are delivered to the apparatus in spaced relationship for feeding into every other trackway of the reel as it rotates past the entry port, and that the intermediate trackways of the reel are filled during the succeeding revolution. This results in all trackway end pockets of the reel being filled during two revolutions of the reel and one revolution of the drum but with the containers arranged in interchanged order. After advancing the full length of the helical trackway, the containers move out of the end thereof one by one regardless of the angular position of the drum and accumulate in the circumferential trackway in such a manner that they are ejected from the machine in groups or slugs during alternate revolutions of the reel, the last container of a slug being discharged as the end of the helical trackway passes the discharge port, leaving the circumferential trackway empty. The reel then makes one complete revolution without discharging any containers. During this revolution the helix continues to feed containers into the circumferential trackway beginning just after the discharge and of the helix passes the discharge port and filling the first reel trackways in such a manner that while the reel is making one revolution, the helix in making one-half a revolution has filled the pockets constituting the first half of the circumferential trackway. Then as the reel starts the next revolution it starts to discharge these accumulated containers successively while the helix continues to feed additional containers into the pockets constituting the last half of the circumferential trackway. As the reel completes the ejecting revolution, the helix completes its second half of a revolution, continuing to feed containers into the circumferential trackway at half the rate of discharge therefrom until the end of the helical trackway arrives at a position opposite the discharge port. At this time the last container of the group moves directly from the helical trackway across the circumferential trackway and out through the discharge port. The circumferential trackway then being empty, the reel starts another accumulating revolution during which no containers are discharged while the helix feeds containers into the circumferential trackway as previously explained.

The processed containers may be discharged in groups or slugs when they are to be carried away on a conveyer system such as the conveyer 249 without regard for spacing, as may occur at the end of a process, for example. Likewise, when the containers are being fed from one machine directly into another, as in the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 they may be handled in groups or slugs, although it is desirable that the containers be uniformly spaced when feeding directly from one machine into the next machine. Accordingly, as previously explained, the single vanes 198 of the turrents 197 which remove the containers from the successive machines are arranged to eject only every other container from the circumferential trackway, the intervening containers being ejected on the next revolution in a manner similar to that in which the containers are fed into alternate trackways in spaced relationship at the inlet end of each machine. As shown, the containers are ejected directly from the circumferential trackway by this method, although if desired the containers may be ejected in slugs as previously explained and the slugs fed into a rotary valve having a series of pockets from which every other container is then ejected.

In another series of schematic diagrams shown in Figs. 13a to 13d, the manner in which the containers may be discharged in equally spaced relationship rather than in slugs is illustrated. As there shown, the reel 24 is represented as having seven longitudinal trackways as in the mechanical structure shown in the drawings and more particularly in Fig. thereof. In these figures also the cooperating helix and reel are assumed to be rotated at a two to one ratio in the direction indicated by the arrows as downward in the drawing, with the pockets 26 filled with containers as when operating continuously. However, in these figures both the feeding turret and the ejecting turret are assumed to have only one vane 198 as shown in Fig. 11.

As previously explained and shown in the diagrams, the containers are fed into every other trackway of the reel. Fig. 13a shows container C-S approaching the entrance port on the conveyor 2'05 moving downward as indicated by the arrow while Fig. 1312 shows the container as having moved from the dotted circle position on the conveyor into the end of what may be considered the first reel trackway. In Fig. 130, no container is fed into the reel but container C-6 is shown approaching the inlet port and will be fed into the third reel trackway in spaced relationship with container C-S when in the next position opposite the port. Subsequent containers enter the fifth, seventh, second, fourth and sixth reel trackways in sequence as previously mentioned. Likewise, the containers in the reel enter the end of the helical trackway 23 in the same manner, the container B-6 entering the helix in Fig. 13:: and the next container C-3 moving into the helix in Fig. 13c.

In Fig. 13a, it will be apparent that the discharge end 49 of the helical trackway 23 has deposited in the circumferential trackway 52 a continuous series or slug of containers, the first of which, the container B1, is shown as having moved from the dotted circle position in the trackway 52 through the discharge port onto the discharge conveyer 232, which in this instance symbolizes the transfer valves and turrets that transfer the containers from one machine to another as shown in Figs. 8, l0 and 11, being particularly representative of the valve mechanism 158 and its associated conveyer 232.

In Fig. 13b, the reel 24 is shown as having advanced one space whereupon the container B3 is deposited by the discharge end 49 of the helical trackway into the circumferential trackway 52 following the container A-6. At the same time the container A-S moves into register with the discharge trackway 146, but because of the single vane 198 on the turret 197 is permitted to remain in the trackway to be ejected on the next revolution of the reel.

In Fig. 13c, the reel has again advanced another space, moving the container A5 past the port and bringing the container B-2 into alignment with the discharge port, whereupon it is ejected by the single vane turret from the dotted circle position onto the conveyer 232 in spaced relationship with the previously ejected container B-l. At the same time the container A-7 is approaching the end of the helical trackway. As may be predicted from the disposition of the containers in Fig. 130, when the reel advances farther, the container A-6 will remain in the reel and the container B3, will be ejected to follow B-2 in spaced relationship. Likewise, the container A-7 will remain in the reel and the container B4 will be ejected.

Fig. 13d shows a subsequent position assumed after the reel 24 has turned through a complete revolution with the containers A5 and A-6 again approaching the discharge port after having passed the port in the previous revolution from similar positions shown in Fig. 13a. Since in this revolution the preceding container B4 has already been ejected, the next container C-l will be passed and the previously passed container A-S is in position to be ejected when the reel advances one more space. Following A-S, the previously passed containers A-6 and A-7 will be ejected in turn, thus completing the ejection of the A series. In the next revolution, the previously passed group of containers C-1 to 0-4 of the C series will then be ejected, followed by the last containers of the B series and then the last container of the C series, the process continuing in like manner to discharge all of the successive containers in equally spaced relationship for feeding into the next machine.

Although the discharging of the containers has been described with reference to a particular machine structure and ratio of rotation, it is to be understood that the principles explained apply in other cases using different apparatus operating at diiferent ratios. Furthermore, under particular circumstances, it may be found desirable to discharge the containers in slugs and to feed the slugs of containers directly into the next machine. However, this mode of operation would require intermittent movement of the slugs through the transferring mechanism and in case a pressure retaining valve or lock is included, the valve would operate empty half of the time during which it would act as a pump to transfer pressure fluid from one machine to the other.

From the foregoing detailed description of the new processing method and of representative improved container handling apparatus for practicing it as herein set forth, it is apparent that there has been provided by the present invention, a new method of and apparatus for processing material in containers which accomplishes, on a commercial scale and with a high degree of efficiency, the beneficial results taught by the novel method of processing food products set forth in United States Patent No. 2,517,542 to La Verne E. Clifcorn et al. According to the Clifcorn et al. patent, as previously mentioned, food products or the like in containers are processed in the presence of heat transferring medium by revolving the containers about a horizontal external axis disposed at right angles to their longitudinal axes at a speed such that the headspace bubble in each container moves across the middle of the container, thereby agitating the contents to insure optimum heat transfer between the contents and the container wall. The improved method and apparatus described herein provides for revolving the containers end-over-end according to the Clifcorn et al. patent, but effects the rotation along a helical path about a horizontally disposed helix axis, the speed of rotation being such as to establish optimum heat transferring conditions while the containers are advanced laterally along the helix through the processing medium for a distance selected to subject them to the processing action for the required time. The particular apparatus disclosed for effecting the helical movement of the containers through the processing medium is of simple and sturdy construction and is capable of processing the containers at the same rate that containers are usually handled by other container manipulating apparatus in a pack ing plant.

Although specific embodiments of apparatus for practicing the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein by way of a full disclosure of the new method and of presently preferred apparatus, it is to be understood that the improved structures herein set forth are intended only as exemplifications and may be materially changed and modified, or the new method practiced by quite different apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In container handling apparatus for moving cans or the like during processing of their contacts; a supporting frame; a generally cylindrical structure mounted horizontally in said frame for rotation upon its horizontal axis and presenting on its periphery a helical trackway generated upon said axis and shaped to receive and guide the inner end of each of a procession of containers disposed with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to said axis of rotation; and a cooperating reel disposed in telescoped relationship with said cylindrical structure and mounted concentrically therewith in said frame for independent rotation about said horizontal axis, said reel presenting a plurality of longitudinal trackways shaped to engage and guide the outer end of each container, said longitudinal trackways being disposed transversely of said helical trackway and forming intersections therewith constituting container retaining pockets, the arrangement being such that said containers are retained against radial movement in said pockets in order that they may be revolved end-over-end at the speed of rotation of said reel to agitate their contents during processing, the containers being fed laterally along said trackways at a rate depending upon the relative rate of rotation between said reel and said cylindrical structure regardless of whether or not said cylindrical structure is rotating.

2. In apparatus forprocessing material confined in containers such as food products packed in sealed cans, a container carrying structure presenting a helical trackway, said structure being mounted with the helix axis horizontal and arranged for rotation upon said horizontal helix axis, a second container carrying structure having an axial trackway in container constraining relationship with said helical trackway said second structure also being rotatable about said axis, means for rotating either one of said structures relative to the other to cause the containers to move in both trackways in a continuous procession regardless or whether or not the other of said structures is rotating, the containers being positioned in said trackways with their longitudinal axes disposed radially of said axis of rotation and while the containers are supported by their ends, and means to subject the containers to the influence of a processing medium while they are revolving end-over-end about said helix axis.

3. Container handling apparatus comprising a helix element rotatably mounted upon a horizontal axis and presenting a helical trackway generated about said axis, and a cooperating reel element mounted in telescoped concentric relationship with said rotatable helix element for independent rotation upon said horizontal axis and presenting longitudinal trackways forming, at their intersections with said helical trackway, container-receiving pockets for retaining containers positioned with their axes disposed radially of said axis of rotation, the arrangement being such that containers in said pockets may be revolved end-over-end at predetermined speed either in helical paths, with predetermined rate of axial progression, or in circular paths, as determined by selecting the speeds of rotation of said helix and reel ele' ments.

4. Container handling apparatus comprising, a helix element rotatably mounted upon a horizontal axis and presenting a helical trackway generated about said axis, a cooperating reel element mounted in telescoped concentric relationship with said rotatable helix element for independent rotation upon said horizontal axis and pre senting longitudinal trackways intersecting said helical trackway to form therewith container-receiving pockets for retaining containers positioned with their axes disposed radially of said axis of rotation, and power actuated means operatively connected to effect selectively rotation of said helix element or of said reel element or of both simultaneously for causing movement of containers along said intersecting trackways.

5. In a container handling apparatus for cans or the like, a drum disposed horizontally for rotation about its horizontal axis and presenting on its periphery a helical trackway formed about said axis and adapted to receive containers positioned with their longitudinal axes disposed radially of said axis of rotation, a reel disposed in telescoped relationship with said drum and mounted for independent rotation about said axis, said reel presenting a plurality of longitudinal trackways that intersect said helical trackway in a manner forming at their points of intersection a plurality of container retaining pockets, and power actuated means selectively operable to rotate said reel individually or to rotate said reel and said drum simultaneously.

6. In apparatus for processing material confined in containers such as food products packed in sealed cans; a container carrying structure presenting a helical trackway, said structure being mounted with the helix axis horizontal and arranged for rotation upon said horizontal helix axis; means arranged to retain containers in and move them along said helical trackway in a continuous procession regardless of whether or not said structure is rotating; means to revolve said structure regardless of whether or not containers are being moved along said helical trackway; and means to subject the containers to the influence of a processing medium while they are revolving about said helix axis as the result of movement along said helical trackway or rotation of said structure or both.

' 7. In apparatus for processing material confined in containers such as food products packed in sealed cans; a container carrying cylindrical structure presenting a longitudinal trackway spaced radially from its axis, said structure being mounted with its axis horizontal and arranged for rotation upon said horizontal axis; means arranged to move containers along said longitudinal trackway in a continuous procession regardless of whether or not said structure is rotating, the containers being positioned in said trackway with their longitudinal axes normal to said axis of rotation; means to revolve said container carrying structure at selected speed to revolve the containers end-over-end for agitating the material confined therein regardless of whether or not containers are being moved along said longitudinal trackway; and means to subject the containers in said trackway to the influence of a processing medium while they are revolving end-over-end about said axis.

8. In container handling apparatus, a pair of concentric independently rotataole cylinders presenting cooperating angularly related container receiving trackways, means to effect relative rotation between said cylinders to feed containers along said cooperating trackways, and means to effect selective rotation of one or both of said cylinders to revolve containers during processing.

9. In a container handling apparatus, concentric cylinders arranged to rotate independently about a common axis, one of said cylinders presenting a concentric helical container receiving trackway and the other presenting cooperating longitudinal container receiving trackways, said cooperating trackways forming container receiving pockets at their intersections, the arrangement being such that relative rotation of said cylinders results in movement of containers along said trackways; and means to drive said cylinders selectively; whereby containers may be loaded into and unloaded from said trackways by relative rotation of said cylinders and material within said containers may be processed while revolving end over-end about said axis by rotation of said longitudinal trackWay cylinder, said containers revolving at the speed determined by the speed of rotation of, said longitudinal trackway cylinder while advancing along said trackways through said apparatus at a rate determined by the rate of relative rotation between said cylinders.

10. In apparatus for processing mobile material confined in containers, a container carrying drum mounted horizontally for rotation upon its axis and presenting a concentric helical container receiving trackway arranged to receive containers positioned with their major axes radially of said axis of rotation and with their inner ends abutting the periphery of said drum, means to move containers along said helical trackway to load or unload said drum, means to restrain the containers from movement radially outward from saiddrum, and means to rotate said drum upon its horizontal axis to revolve said containers end-over-end for agitating the mobile material therein during processing.

ll. In a container handling apparatus, a drum presenting a concentric helical guideway adapted to receive the inner ends of radially disposed containers, said drum being mounted to rotate about its axis; a container advancing reel of generally cylindrical shape disposed concentrically of said drum externally thereof and presenting longitudinal g'uideways adapted to receive the outer ends of the containers, said reel being mounted to rotate about said axis independently of said drum with the respective guideways of said drum and said reel cooperating at their intersections to form pockets for retaining the containers; means to rotate said reel at selected speed; and locking means operating alternatively to lock said drum in stationary position or to lock said drum to said reel for rotation therewith, whereby containers may be loaded into or unloaded from said trackways by rotating said reel while holding said drum locked in stationary position and material within the containers may be suitably agitated by rotating said reel and said drum while locked together as a unit.

12. Container handling apparatus comprising, a container carrying drum presenting an external concentric helical trackway adapted to receive the inner ends of a series of containers each similarly positioned with its longitudinal axis disposed radially of the helix axis, said drum being mounted for rotation upon the helix axis; a cooperating concentrically rotatable reel disposed to encircle said, drum and presenting longitudinal trackways for receiving the outerends of the containers, saidlongitudinal trackways lying transverse to said helical trackway and cooperating therewith at their intersections to form pockets for retaining the containers; and clutching mechanism alternatively engageable to clutch said drum to said reel or to clutch said drum in stationary position, the arrangement being such that said drum and said reel may be rotated simultaneously when clutched together to revolve the containers end-over-end for agitating their contents or said reel may be rotated while said drum is clutched in stationary position to advance the containers along said trackways for loading or unloading said apparatus.

13. In a processing apparatus for mobile material confined in containers, a container carrying drum preseating a helical. trackway adapted to receive the inner ends of a procession of containers each positioned with its longitudinal axis disposed radially to the helix axis, said drum being mounted with the helix axis disposed substantially horizontally for rotation thereon; a reel disposed concentrically of said drum externally thereof and presenting a plurality of longitudinal trackways lying transverse to said helical tr-ackway for receiving the outer ends of the containers, said reel being mounted for rotation independently of said drum to advance the containers along said helical trackway and to effect agitation of the mobile material in the containers; means to rotate said drum and said reel simultaneously in the same direction with said drum turning at a speed constituting a proper fraction of the speed of rotation of said reel; feeding mechanism arranged to feed containers to be processed into the receiving ends of said longitudinal trackways of said reel at such rate that during one full revolution of said reel relative to said drum the number of containers fed into said reel trackways is equal to the number of said longitudinal trackways; and discharging mechanism operatively arranged to discharge processed containers from the discharging ends of said longitudinal trackways, whereby the containers are moved by said reel along said helical trackway at the speed of relative rotation between said reel and said drum and are revolved about said axis of rotation at the speed of rotation of said reel, the speeds of rotation of said reel and said drum being selected to retain the containers in the processing apparatus for the desired length of time while revolving them end-over-end at the required speed to effect the desired agitation of the material during processing. I

In a processing apparatus for mobile material confined in containers, a container carrying drum presenting a helical trackway adapted to receive a run of containers each positioned with its major axis disposed radially to the helix axis, said drum being mounted with said helix axis disposed substantially horizontally for rotation thereon; a reel disposed concentrically of said drum and presenting a plurality of longitudinal trackways lying transverse to said helical trackway for receiving containers, said reel being mounted for rotation independently of said drum to advance the containers along said helical trackway; means to rotate said drum and said reel simultaneously in the same direction with said drum turning at a speed constituting a proper fraction of the speed of rotation of said reel; and feeding mechanism arranged to feed containers to be processed into the receiving ends of said longitudinal trackways of said reel at such rate that the number of containers fed into said reel trackways during one full revolution of said reel relative to said drum is equal to the number of said longitudinal trackways, whereby the containers are moved by said reel into said helical trackway at the speed of rotation of said reel relative to said drum in such manner that the container receiving pockets formed by said intersecting trackways are filled successively by containers that have been fed into said reel trackways in difierent revolutions of said reel.

15. In a processing apparatus for mobile material confined in containers, a container carrying drum presenting a helical trackw'ay adapted to receive a run of containers each positioned withits major axis disposed radially to the helix axis, said drum being mounted with the helix axis disposed substantially horizontally for rotation thereon; a reel disposed concentrically of said drum and presenting longitudinal trackways lying transverse to said helical trackway for receiving containers, said reel being mounted for rotation independently of said drum to advance the containers along said helical trackway; power actuated means arranged to rotate said drum including gearing operatively connected to rotate said reel simultaneously in the same direction with said reel turning faster than said drum; and feeding mechanism arranged to feed containers to be processed into the longitudinal trackways at the receiving end of said reel, the arrangement being such that containers are moved by said reel into said helical trackway at less than the speed of rotation of said reel in such manner that the container receiving pockets formed by said intersecting trackways are filled successively by containers, whereby the containers may be revolved end-over-end at a speed of rotation of the reel selected to efiect desired agitation of their mobile contents while being processed at a rate determined by the rate of advance of said reel relative to said drum. 

1. IN CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR MOVING CANS OR THE LIKE DURING PROCESSING OF THEIR CONTACTS; A SUPPORTING FRAME; A GENERALLY CLINDRICAL STRUCTURE MOUNTED HORIZONTALLY IN SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION UPON ITS HORIZONTAL AXIS AND PRESENTING ON PERIPHERY A HELICAL TRACKWAY GENERATED UPON SAID AXIS AND SHAPED TO RECEIVE AND GUIDE THE INNER END OF EACH OF A PROCESSION OF CONTAINERS DISPOSED WITH THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION; AND A COOPERATING REEL DISPOSED IN TELESCOPED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE AND MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY THEREWITH IN SAID FRAME FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID REEL PRESENTING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL TRACKWAYS SHAPED TO ENGAGE AND GUIDE THE OUTER END OF EACH CONTAINER, SAID LONGITUDINAL TRACKWAYS BEING DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID HELICAL TRACKWAY AND FORMING INTERSECTIONS THERE WITH CONSTITUTING CONTAINER RETAINING POCKETS, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT SAID CONTAINERS ARE RETAINED AGAINST RADIAL MOVEMENT IN SAID POCKETS IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE REVOLVED END-OVER-END AT THE SPEED OF ROTATION OF SAID REEL TO AGITATE THEIR CONTENTS DURING PROCESSING, THE CONTAINERS BEING FED LATERALLY ALONG SAID TRACKWAYS AT A RATE DEPENDING UPON THE RELATIVE RATE OF ROTATION BETWEEN SAID REEL AND SAID CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SAID CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE IS ROTATING. 